Helmet



g- 1938. c. R. STANDLEY 2,125,854

HELMET Filed Dec. 5, 1936 CZeaR-Sfiwndltgy,

Patented Aug. 2, 1938 at ITUNITED STATES PATENT'OFFICE Cleo R. Standley, Wheaton, 111., assign el crt Malcom, Chicago, Ill. i

Application December 5, 1936, Serial No. 114,490

2 Claims.

This invention relates to helmets that are for protection of the head and face of a wearer during the playing of football, la crosse, and other games, and in other activities, where head protection is required.

It is an object of the invention to provide a facepiece that easily may be associated with the helmet, that affords protection to the face and permits the wearer to have clear vision, that is formed to give ventilation to the inside, and that easily may be removed and replaced by another when required.

When considered with the description herein, the characteristics of the invention are apparent in the accompanying drawing, forming part hereof, which exemplifies a form that now is deemed to be a preferable one.

Like reference-characters refer to corresponding parts in the views of the drawing, of which- Fig. 1 is a front elevation;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

The helmet includes a crown or cap 5, of rigid sheet material such as aluminum or other suitable material, covered with rather thick flexible material I such as leather, and lined with comparatively soft material such as felt. Except at the back, the rigid material 6 depends as a flange 9 below the cover I and lining 8.

Two parts [0, one on each side, depending from the crown, to cover the ears and other side portions of the head, extend backwardly from about the temples of the wearer, and thus there is left an opening across the face that is closed by a facepiece as hereinafter described.

' The depending parts I are secured by stitching H to the crown-flange 9, except from points near the back, from which the parts Ill are left free as flaps l2. The free ends of the flaps are connect-ed by lacing 13.

A tape I4 is disposed through a slot l near the lower front edge of each of the parts l0, whereby the helmet is held on the head.

At the front of the helmet, a flap l6, constituting a support for the facepiece, depends from the crown and extends entirely across the space between the side parts Ill. This flap is formed of an outer layer ll of rather thick and strong flexible material such as leather that overlaps at its top the crown-flange 9, an inner layer iii of soft material such as leather, and padding l9 such as felt between the layers I1 and IS, the padding and the inner layer underlapping the flange 9. The flap is secured to the flange by stitching 20 or in any other suitable manner, and the flap layers are bound by stitching 2| at the lower edge.

The facepiece, which occupies the space between the front edges of the side parts Ill, includes a foundation 22 of rigid sheet material, preferably aluminum, shaped to afford a nosecovering portion 23, and having therein eyepieces 24, on each side of the nose portion, equipped with either plain glass or prescription lenses 25.

The foundation is covered outside with padding 26, over which is suitable flexible sheet material 21 such as leather that overlaps the edges and extends downwardly, upwardly, and laterally inside of the foundation, as shown, as a marginal lining at 28, 29, and 30, respectively. Preferably, the lapping material 29 at the bottom is secured by adhesive to the foundation.

Thick pads 3|, stitched to the cover material, are positioned inside of the foundation along its side and bottom portions in places where they will rest against the sides of the face and the cheek of the wearer. These pads are sufficiently thick to keep the foundation out of contact with the nose and other parts of the face.

The facepiece is formed with vents 32, one positioned above the nose-covering portion, and others positioned below the eyepieces, as shown in Fig. 1. These vents permit entrance and exit of air at or near places where the inside of the facepiece is close to the face. At the positions shown, they afford ventilation and permit easy breathing by the wearer.

Near the top of the facepiece, there is a row of eyelets 33 through the cover material and foundation for accommodation of lacing 34 that is carried through a corresponding row ofeyelets 35 in the flap I6, whereby the facepiece is secured detachably to the crown. The facepiece is secured detachably at the bottom corners of the side parts Ill by tied lacing 36.

The helmet, irrespective of the facepiece, may be produced in the sizes required for the general run of persons to wear them.

As the facepieces, in View of their lacing attachment to the crown and side parts, easily may be removed and replaced by others, they may be made to conform to the varying physiognomy of wearers. Thus, the particular form required by a person may be attached to his helmet; and, when the helmet is to be used by someone else, another facepiece suitable for him may be substituted, if the one already attached is unsuitable. Moreover, a facepiece may be equipped with the therefrom, said flap being formed of an outer layer of strong flexible sheet material that overlaps said flange at its top and an inner layer of flexible material that underlaps said flange, and a facepiece detchably secured to the lower edge of said flap and freely swingable upwardly from over the face.

depending flange, a flap of flexible material at the front depending from said flange, and a facepiece detachably secured to and depending from said flap, said facepiece being formed with a rigid sheet material foundation shaped to afford a nose cover portion, padding on the outside of said foundation, flexible sheet material covering said foundation and padding and overlapping the edges of said foundation and extending inside thereof, and padding attached to said cover material inside of said foundation and disposed along the side and bottom portions thereof in .places where they have contact with face portions of the wearer, said facepiece being freely swingable upwardly from over the face. 2. A helmet comprising a crown having a rigid CLEO R. STANDLEY. 

